Volunteer Teaching Physical Education in Ethiopia

ROLE: Teaching new skills to children to improve their own fitness and techniques in a range of different sports

AGE OF STUDENTS: 11-16

CLASS SIZE: 45

REQUIREMENTS: None

ACCOMMODATION: Host family

LENGTH OF PLACEMENT: From 2 weeks

START DATES: Flexible

Ethiopia, a country famous for its world class athletes, is an ideal destination for Projects Abroad volunteers who want to coach sports to children. By taking part in our Physical Education project, volunteers will not only be involved in learning new skills and improving their own fitness, but will also be able to pass on their own sports knowledge to local children.

In Ethiopia, volunteers can choose to focus on teaching physical education to children in schools or choose to combine working at a school with training at a track & field club. By taking part on this project you will gain a large amount of work experience working alongside skilled staff and athletes.

You do not need any coaching experience or skills to take part in this project. All you need is an interest in sports and an enthusiasm for fitness. If you are on a gap year, career break, or simply looking for a different and meaningful experience for the summer, you can help students improve their fitness levels and develop their sports skills.

Teaching Physical Education in Ethiopia with Projects Abroad

As a volunteer teaching physical education in schools, you will teach a variety of sports to children aged 11 to 16 at a local middle and high school. The sports that are normally taught at schools in Ethiopia are aerobics, track & field, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Each class has two PE lessons per week, so your day will be spent teaching a variety of age groups.

When you arrive at your placement, you will be assigned to an experienced supervisor who will be on hand to offer you support and guidance. You will start out by shadowing and assisting local staff, but depending on your ability and confidence, you can also lead your own lessons. Depending on the school’s requests, you may be asked to coach a team from the school and prepare them for inter-school competitions.

By teaching Physical Education in Ethiopia, you will watch each child's confidence grow. As you work with them to develop their talents, you will witness how their increased self-esteem impacts on their personal relationships.

This project is not available during the school vacation from July to September.

Combining Physical Education with Track & Field in Ethiopia

As an addition to the Teach Physical Education project, volunteers are given the opportunity to train a few mornings a week with a local Ethiopian track & field club. If you choose this option, you will train in different locations with one of twenty long distance athletes and prepare for an official road-race event.

This option is on a request basis only, so please let us know that you would like to join the track & field club when you apply for the Teach Physical Education in Ethiopia project.

You can join a Physical Education project in Ethiopia for two or three weeks if you don't have time to join us for four weeks or more. This project has been selected by our local colleagues as being suitable for short term volunteering for both the host community and the volunteer. Although you will gain a valuable cultural insight and work intensely within the local community please be aware that you may not be able to make the same impact as someone volunteering for a longer period.